352 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



ing tanks and rivers. It breeds among rushes, forming a large flat nest 

 of sedge, and lays from six to tea eggs, similar in colour and size to 

 that of the preceding. 



654. Anas Sparsa, Smith, Zool. S. Africa, pi. 97; 

 Ey ton's Anat., p. 142 ; Black-Duck of Sportsmen. 



Throughout of a very .dark-bi'own, finely mottled on the 

 head and neck with dirty-white, and marked on the wings 

 and tail with large pure white spots; vent edged with white; 

 across the wini^; is a bright-green bar, edged with bhick and 

 white ; the black neares.t the green. Length, 22"; wing, 

 10"; tail, 5". 



The Black-Duck is solitary and shy in its habits, frequenting rirers, 

 under the brLiiks of which it conceals itself during the day. It is 

 scarce, but generally distributed. I have received specimens from 

 Colesberg and Traka, and heard of it at Middelburg, where my late 

 friend, l\Ir. Jackson, shot several specimens. It may be distinguished 

 from all our other ducks by its dark plumage and abrupt vrhite spots. 

 Mr. Atmore writes : " The common duck of the OHphauts Hiver — 

 very shy — delicious eating." 



655. Anas Flavirostris, Smith Zooi. s. Af, pi. 



9G ; Ey ton's Anat., p. 1 41 ; A. X author hyncha, Forst. 

 Desc. Ani., p. 45 ; Geelbec of Colonists and Spoitsmen. 



Throughout a light-brown, each feather broadly edged with 

 white, giving the whole a scaled appearance ; head and neck 

 minutely mottled with white ; a broad green band, narrowly 

 edged with black, and again by white, extends partially 

 across the uing ; bill bright- yellon', with the tip and centre 

 of upper mandible black. L?ugth, 22"; wing, 9"; tail, 4". 



This is our commonest Duck, being abundant all over the colony 

 and South Africa generally. It is migratory, as indeed are all our 

 ducks, coming and going with the waters. It is usually seen in pairs, 

 male and female, and cxhil/its all the wariness and caution of its race. 

 They breed in coDsideral)le numbers at Vogel Vley, among the rushes ' 

 and rocks scattered over that lake. I am told that at one season of 

 the year the firmers in that nei:,'libourhood assemble for a grand hunt 

 after tiu\se birds and the A. Erythrorhyacha The method of hunting 

 is as foUows : The sliootcrs are poste i in different parts of this long 

 slieet of water, liidden among the rushes and the bush-covered rocks 

 whicli jut out here and tiiere iu the shallows. Men are then sent 

 about with the long wagon whips, and with these they beat the rushes 

 and keep up a continual cr:i.king (and tlie crack of a Cape whip is 

 neprlv equal to that of a gun) ; tlie wretclied birds fly backwards and 

 forward- (having no otlier water within many miles), and as they pass 

 the ambuscadps, are shot down ; when the day's butchery is over, the 

 dead and wounded are sought for, and usually fill many sacks. 



They construct their nests in the dry veldt at a distance from the 



